The town of Durham, which has shared a road commissioner with neighboring Pownal since 2012, is looking for someone to fill that role.

Shawn Bennett, 46, surprised officials in both towns in February, announcing that he would be leaving to take a job with All-States Materials Group, a construction firm in Sunderland, Mass. Bennett did not return calls seeking comment, but according to his LinkedIn profile, he is a marketing and sales representative for All-States.

Jeff Wakeman, chairman of the Durham Board of Selectmen, said that town officials hope to have a replacement for Bennett sometime in May.

“It was a surprise to everybody,” Wakeman said of Bennett’s resignation. “His final day was at the end of February. We’ll fill it as soon as we can without rushing it. I would hope before May, but we haven’t set a date.”

Wakeman said he has not looked yet at applications for the job.

While Durham officials look for a new road commissioner, Ron Dube and Scott Seaver will serve on an interim basis. Dube is foreman of the Durham Public Works Department, which came into existence a year ago. Seaver, administrative assistant in Pownal, is not interested in becoming road commissioner.

“I was appointed really just to sign the road postings for weight limits on the roads,” Seaver said. “Nobody is getting any extra money. The position will be a Durham position and we will reimburse them. It will be a joint supervisor of the position, but a Durham hire. The health insurance benefits are better in Durham.”

Bennett had been road commissioner in Pownal since 2003. Durham picked up 60 percent of Bennett’s $65,000 salary because it has more road mileage to cover.

Dube, 54, was a public works equipment operator in Orono prior to taking the job of foreman for Durham Public Works.

Shawn Bennett